Princeton man's trial in fatal Worcester stabbing opens

Tuesday

Jun 24, 2014 at 11:24 AMJun 24, 2014 at 8:33 PM

By Scott J. Croteau TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

WORCESTER — Boris M. Velez II and Jay S. Anderson left a Sherbrook Avenue party last year two different ways. Mr. Velez left with a stab wound in his neck, while Mr. Anderson fled, holding the knife that caused the fatal wound, a prosecutor said Tuesday morning.

The murder trial against Mr. Anderson, 22 of 15 Calamint Hill Road North, Princeton began Tuesday in Worcester Superior Court. He is accused stabbing Mr. Velez, a 20-year-old Worcester man, in the neck after an argument in a home at 35 Sherbrook Ave. on Feb. 2, 2013.

The defense team for Mr. Anderson is arguing that his client acted in self-defense after he was threatened by Mr. Velez, who they said was armed with a dagger.

Prosecutor Brett F. Dillon said the party was going fine that early morning. People were drinking and having a good time. Mr. Velez, he said, was "the life of the party."

But after Mr. Anderson showed up with some friends around 1:30 a.m., an argument broke out in the kitchen. Both the defense and prosecution said friends of Mr. Velez and Mr. Anderson had prior problems at another party. Those problems however, never involved Mr. Velez and Mr. Anderson.

"He was killed over an argument that wasn't his," Mr. Dillon told the jury.

The argument eventually ended, and Mr. Velez began to apologize and shake hands, the prosecutor said. Mr. Anderson, the prosecution contends, was unfolding and hiding a knife behind his back as Mr. Velez apologized. The two men even shook hands.

"They say, 'No beef.' The problem is over," Mr. Dillon said.

But Mr. Anderson didn't stop, Mr. Dillon told the jury. He lashed out at Mr. Velez, striking him in the neck with what appeared to be a punch, the prosecutor said.

"He plunges that knife into Boris Velez's neck, almost forcing it all the way through," Mr. Dillon said.

Defense lawyer Peter L. Ettenberg said his client was backed into a corner that night by Mr. Velez and his friends. Mr. Velez was yelling at Mr. Anderson, threatening him and even said he would stab him, the defense lawyer said in court.

After the stabbing, Mr. Anderson fled the party and hid at a relative's home, where he drank beer and watched the Super Bowl, Mr. Dillon said. Mr. Anderson shaved his head sometime after the killing.

Mr. Velez died at a local hospital three days after the party. Eventually Mr. Anderson learned Mr. Velez had died and started running again, Mr. Dillon said. Mr. Anderson later turned himself in. He has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge.